"That's the weakest bit of it all," interrupted the lawyer, and read on

"I looked about and saw nothing. There had been a flash of lightning just before the shriek, and that dazed my eyes for a minute. It did occur to me presently that somebody might have fallen over the Bite, unlikely as it seemed for anybody to be out on such a night; but I thought again that it must have been all a mere fancy. I was too much disturbed to think or reason coolly, and was hurrying away from the place when I stumbled against a woman.

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Recognized her to be my wife, and in consequence of what had passed between us, was about to quit her when she fell to the ground in a faint. Almost at the same moment Robert Keith gripped my arm, and asked me what I had been doing. Did not mind the question at the time, but told him to carry my wife into the house, and broke away from him. Gave up the attempt to find the horse, and proceeded across the hills, down to the low road by the shore, and walked on to Portlappoch, where I arrived some time in the forenoon.

"It is a dangerous pathway across the hills, and is rarely used; but have travelled it several times before; certainly not in the dark. It was very dark on this night. Cannot say how I occupied the time from Askaig to my arrival in the town. Was too much agitated to pay much attention to where I was going, and I suppose the time was occupied in wandering about the hills. Know that I lost the way frequently, as I could have travelled the distance thrice in the same space of time under ordinary circumstances.

"Went to Girzie Todd, the fishwife's, and stayed in her cottage, whilst I sent her to Cairnieford for my father-in-law, Adam Lindsay. Did not care to go myself, because I did not want to see anything which would remind me of my wife. In consequence of what had passed between her and me, was preparing to leave Portlappoch for a time, but without any fixed plan as to where I was going or how long I might be absent. “The mark on my right hand is from tar. I got it in the market on Tuesday when I was examining some sheep which

were marked on the back with tar that forenoon, so that it was not dry and stuck to my hand when I accidentally touched it. Noticed it at the time, and rubbed my hand in the wool of the sheep. Do not think there was sufficient left on my hand to stain anything afterward, and it dried in a little while.'

"There," ejaculated the lawyer, thrusting the paper from him with strong disapprobation: "ye see he admits everything just as if he was in a hurry to ram his head into the noose. It's the most ridiculous deposition for a man to make wi' the gallows lowering on him that ever I saw or heard o'."

"Aye, but it's the deposition of an honest and an innocent man," said the wife, proud of his truth in defiance of the peril of it.

"No doubt; but a man may be as innocent as he likes, if his own and everybody else's testimony proves him guilty, they'll hang him a' the same."

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But they sha'na do that. I tell ye we maun save him." "That's easy said; but how are we to do it? We'll have to find first somebody to take his place, and that somebody must have tar on his hand and a big grudge in his heart against the deceased. And that will be no easy job, for, by all accounts, Falcon never sought to harm anybody, unless it might be your guidman."

"Never sought to harm onybody," she repeated thoughtfully; and suddenly she sprang to her feet, crying excitedly, "I ken the man!"

"Lord's sake, what's the matter!" exclaimed Carnegie, infected by her excitement, and jumping up also.

"On the morning when Jeamie Falcon came to Cairnieford, he promised me that he would gang awa' and never come back," she said breathlessly; "he didna gang, and on that awfu’ night when I charged him wi' deceiving me and trying to come between me and my guidman, he tauld me that he had waited only that he might do an act o' justice. He had determined to bring Ivan Carrach, the skipper, to the scaffold, for some ill he had done, and Ivan Carrach that he was waiting for came and killed Jeamie to save himsel'."

"Eh, EH, EH!" ejaculated the lawyer in a crescendo tone of amaze, 6,6 can you prove that? Hae ye ony proof o' that ? " "He told me himsel' what he was waiting for-isna that proof?"

"But did onybody else hear him say it ?"

“No”—(reflecting, then briskly)—“ Aye, Wattie Todd was in the room at Askaig when he said it, and maun hae heard him."

"Aye."

Mr. Carnegie's countenance fell.

"I doubt that will no serve us much, unless we can get some proof apart from you that Ivan Carrach had done something that Falcon meant to deliver him over to the law for. Ye see, as you are the wife of the prisoner, it would be suspected at once that your story was a make-up; and Wattie Todd's evidence would be little counted on. But where is he ?"

"He gaed awa' that night seeking Falcon; and his mother, Girzie, is awa' seeking him. I haena seen him since."

"That's worse yet, for little help as he might hae been; it would hae been better than none. Let's see now-has Carrach been seen about, immediately before or on Tuesday, or onytime since ?"

“I dinna ken, but the Laird could tell us.”

"Just wait here till I come back."

He put on his hat and went out hastily. During his absence Jeanie was busy searching her memory for any hint Falcon might have dropped in their conversation as to the possible cause of his enmity against the skipper. Like a flash of light Falcon's words recurred to her

"I blame him for all the misfortune that has befallen us." Why should he blame him? She had just remembered the answer to that question when Mr. Carnegie returned, with disappointment on his visage.

"I met the Laird at the bank," he said, shaking his head, "but he has not seen Carrach for a long while, though he

believes he is no further away than Ayr, and may be here today or to-morrow.”

"I believe he's telling a lee," she exclaimed sharply; "but I'll find out without his help. I can tell ye now the cause o' the quarrel between Carrach and Jeamie."

"What was it ?"

"Ye mind that the Colin was burnt?"

"Quite well."

"Jeamie tauld me that Carrach himsel' had kindled the fire and burnt the brig, though he didna ken what his purpose was. That was what he blamed for parting him and me, and it was for that he said Carrach should swing on the gallows."

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"For mercy's sake, Mrs. Gray, take care what ye say,” cried the astonished lawyer, or ye'll bring yoursel' into trouble. Do ye know that this would almost involve Clashgirn himself in a conspiracy to defraud the insurance company. The Colin was insured in the office I'm agent for, and it was a considerable loss."

"Then that would be a reason for the Laird telling you a lee about Carrach. Oh, Heaven be thanked, the light is dawning on me now, and I'll get at the bottom o't before many hours are gone."

Mr. Carnegie was trotting about the floor in violent agitation.

"Where are you going?" he asked as she moved to the door. To Clashgirn."

"Stop a minute; if we're to make onything by this extraordinary clue, we must handle it calmly. What are you to do there?"

"See Mrs. Begg and the servants, and get out o' them ae way or another whether they hae seen Carrach or no lately." "I wonder if it's safe to let you go-you might spoil everything if you were to let the Laird guess what you were driving at."

"Hae nae fear. Robin Gray's life is depending on me, and that thought will guide me as cunningly as all your experience could do."

The little man looked at her calm resolute face, and an expression of confidence overspread his own.

"I'll trust you," he said nodding; "it's wonderful what a woman can do when her blood's up. You're a brave woman, Mrs. Gray, and I believe you'll manage this better than I would myself, though I am counted a gey sharp hand at ferreting. Just keep cool, question everything, and admit nothing, and you'll manage it. In the meantime I'll turn up all the facts about the Colin, and if the point o' a needle can prick a hole in them I'll do't. Come back here as soon as you can, and if I'm no in, send for me."

Jeanie's heart was throbbing hopefully, and with a light step she took the road to Clashgirn. The clouds were clearing as she thought.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE FIRST STEP.

"Ah, woman, I'll tell ye what I heard yestreen,
Somebody was someway they shouldna hae been,
It's no that I'm jalousin' ocht that is ill,

But we ay ken our ain ken, and sae will we still."
-A. A. Ritchie.

SHE approached the house cautiously. There was a keen frosty wind blowing, and that would have been excuse enough if any one had observed that her plaid was drawn tightly round her and over her head, thus screening her features. The day, too, was already beginning to darken, and that rendered it difficult for any one to recognize her at a distance.

She was anxious to escape the observation of the Laird, at any rate until after she had seen the housekeeper. She passed round to the back of the house and entered by the kitchen door.

Two strapping lassies with red arms were bustling about preparing the luggies and the dishes for the evening's milk. Both recognized her, and both paused in their work, exclaiming, "Hech, sirs!"